Democratic Party accuses PDI-P of 'poaching' members

Gearing up: West Java gubernatorial candidate Deddy Mizwar talks with a vendor at the Cikurubuk traditional market in Tasikmalaya city, West Java, on March 26. (Antara/Adeng Bustomi)

Democratic Party deputy secretary-general Andi Arief is once again in the spotlight after accusing the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) of poaching Democratic members for President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo's reelection campaign team.

"I don't understand why [PDI-P chairwoman] Ibu Megawati gave her blessing to [PDI-P secretary-general] Hasto, who is always trying to poach Democratic members to join Jokowi's team," he posted on his Twitter account on Thursday morning. "Is the PDI-P so short of quality members?"

Andi went on to question whether Hasto held a grudge against the Democrats because he was not offered a seat in Democrat chairman Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's Cabinet during the latter's second term as president.

"If the PDI-P likes poaching so much, it would be better for the party to turn into a soccer club instead," he continued.

The Twitter rant came two days after former West Java deputy governor Deddy Mizwar announced that he was joining Jokowi's campaign team as a spokesperson. Deddy had joined the Democratic Party late last year in the lead-up to his failed bid for the West Java governorship.

Previously, outgoing West Nusa Tenggara Governor Muhammad Zainul Majdi resigned from the Democratic Party after declaring his support for Jokowi.

This is not the first time Andi's tweets have raised eyebrows — shortly before the presidential candidates were officially announced, he accused Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto of picking former Jakarta deputy governor Sandiaga Uno as a running mate because Sandiaga could pay off the Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) and the National Mandate Party (PAN). (ahw)